How to Take Care of a Crepe Myrtle
Crepe Myrtles are beautiful trees that bloom even more beautiful flowers of pink, purple, white or red. Crepe Myrtles can add color to a garden, a front yard and even serve as a border between lawns or sections in your backyard. Some Crepe Myrtles can be grown as shrubs. Crepe Myrtles require little maintenance which is great for someone with little to no gardening experience. These few simple steps will help you take care of your Crepe Myrtle. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Full Sun
Crepe Myrtles blossom their flowers in the summer. They need full sun to bloom well. Don't plant Crepe Myrtles around taller trees that block the sun.
-
2
Water
Crepe Myrtles need plenty of water when first planted to establish its root system. During the hot summer months please water often so it will not whither. Watering often will also keep your blossoms blossoming.
-
-
3
Fertilize
Even though a Crepe Myrtle is a tree, it still needs fertilizer. Use a time released fertilzer made for flowering trees.
-
4
Pruning
During the middle of the summer, clip any fading blooms on your Crepe Myrtle. In about two months you may have a second set of blooms. During the year suckers may grow at the base of the tree. Cut these whenever they sprout unless you want your Crepe Myrtle to become a shrub. In the winter, prune the stem tips only.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Crepe Myrtles can grow in any type of soil as long as they have full sun, water and fertilzer.
You can add organic matter to the soil.
Because a Crepe Myrtle offers plenty of shade the older it gets, you can plant flowers at its base that does well in shade.
Resources
- Photo Credit fotosearch.com
More Like This
Comments
View all 6 Comments-
This is my first year to have a crape myrtle it is pink I do plan on getting a purple one. I want mine in containers not in the ground.
-
I had always thought PA too far north to grow crepes - shows you what I know - lol
-
Worried about my Crepe Myrtles. Two have started to leaf up at the base but another large tree has nothing and it mid May! Is it ok to fertilize now? It was a harsh winter and perhaps I didn't mulch enoough in that area of my gardens. I did cut back a wee bit late April, nothing drastic.
-
Well guess what??? I didn't kill them!!! They are still just sleeping!!! Probly won't come out until summer!!! Thank you GOD!!!!
-
could be,,the best time to prune crepe myrtles is in Feb...hope they make it!
